Mentoring Women's Farmer Groups in Utilizing Yard Land as an Effort for Food Security in the Pandemic Period

The objectives of this community service are: 1. assisting women farmer groups in the use of yard land, 2. educating women farmer groups in efforts to food security during the pandemic. This community service was carried out for 3 months, namely April, May, and June 2021 through the following methods: 1) lectures by the implementation team for the Women Farmer Group in Baran village, Cawas, Klaten who attended a total of 52 people regarding food security education in during the pandemic, 2) distribution of assistance for a number of vegetable seeds to be planted in a predetermined yard, 3) assistance in planting and using vegetables as a source of family nutrition. The result of this community service is that the women in Baran Village, Cawas, Klaten who are members of the Women Farmers Group have an independent business in the form of vegetable plants as a source of nutrition that can be used as a share of crop yields: from, by, for the Woman Farmer Group members.

COVID-19 Pandemic as Risk Factors for Excessive Weight Gain in Pediatrics: The Role of Changes in Nutrition Behavior. A Narrative Review

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, social isolation, semi-lockdown, and “stay at home” orders were imposed upon the population in the interest of infection control. This dramatically changes the daily routine of children and adolescents, with a large impact on lifestyle and wellbeing. Children with obesity have been shown to be at a higher risk of negative lifestyle changes and weight gain during lockdown. Obesity and COVID-19 negatively affect children and adolescents’ wellbeing, with adverse effects on psychophysical health, due in large part to food choices, snacking between meals, and comfort eating. Moreover, a markable decrease in physical activity levels and an increase in sedentary behavior is associated with weight gain, especially in children with excessive weight. In addition, obesity is the most common comorbidity in severe cases of COVID-19, suggesting that immune dysregulation, metabolic unbalance, inadequate nutritional status, and dysbiosis are key factors in the complex mechanistic and clinical interplay between obesity and COVID-19. This narrative review aims to describe the most up-to-date evidence on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children and adolescents, focusing on the role of excessive weight and weight gain in pediatrics. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that nutrition education interventions, access to healthy food, as well as family nutrition counselling should be covered by pediatric services to prevent obesity, which worsens disease outcomes related to COVID-19 infection.

Application of biological and digital technologies in resolving the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on crop production in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked great havoc in many spheres of life, including education, health, economy, and agriculture. This paper x-rayed the effects of the pandemic on crop production in Nigeria, and efforts made to proffer viable solutions through the application of biological and digital technologies. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on crop production was palpable in shortage of farm labour and labour immobility, disruption of agricultural input supply chain (e.g., fertilizers, agrochemicals, and seeds) and food distribution network. These irregularities grossly escalated food insecurity challenges, sparked price hikes, increased hunger and food losses. Considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on crop production which invariably extends to farmers’ income, food security, family nutrition and health, prompt measures to minimize the onward transmission among key players in crop production and food supply chain are imperative. The application of biological technologies including vaccination, use of natural herbs and spices, organic agriculture options (such as organic manuring, use of botanical protectants, farmers’ own seeds, cover cropping, mulching, biofertilizers, etc.), agricultural mechanization, and the digital technologies (mobile phones, remote sensing services, online platforms, robotics and artificial intelligence) would go a long way in resolving the negative effects of the pandemic on crop production in Nigeria. Strict adherences to the recommended public health safety measures (social distancing, compulsory use of face masks in the public, regular hand hygiene, covering of one’s mouth when sneezing or coughing, disinfection of high touch surfaces) are crucial in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 infection. Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, crop production, food security, bio-and digital technologies, Nigeria

Program pemberdayaan PKK melalui program pengembangan sistem akuaponik di Desa Ampeldento, Karangploso, Malang

PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) group in Ampeldento Village is a community group whose role needs to be increased, especially in improving family welfare. The problem they have is that the PKK group does not understand the potential of the narrow land owned by the family is the potential to increase family nutrition through the development of aquaponic cultivation systems. Therefore, carried out the implementation of community service programs through the development of the aquaponics system. Data collection techniques are done through interviews and questionnaires. Evaluation of community understanding of the program was carried out using pre-test and post-test. Based on the results of questionnaires and interviews before the program's implementation, it was found that 70% of respondents did not know aquaponics, 50% were not interested, 35% were hesitant in developing aquaponics independently and 45% doubted aquaponics could improve people's welfare. Results improved significantly after the program's implementation and were inversely proportional, with 95% of the community believing that aquaponics could improve welfare and 70% of respondents wanted to develop it independently. Respondents stated that vegetables produced are faster growing, tasty, green, nutritious and large.

Determinants Analysis of the Incidence of Stunting in Children 1-2 Years

Stunting become a serious problem in Indonesia because it was associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, suboptimal brain development that delayed motor development and mental retardation. In fulfillment of family nutrition required a good knowledge about balanced nutrition. This study was an observational study with case control study design, The sampling technique used purposive sampling so that the respondents obtained were 30 toddlers at 4 posyandu. Analysis of the data used for bivariate frequency distribution, while multivariate logistic regression. Result: Obtained a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting, namely the mother's education level (ρ: 0.03; 0.621), family economy (ρ: 0.03; OR: 0.158), mother's height (ρ: 0.01: OR: 12.045), while the sex of children under five did not have a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting, namely ρ: 0.11> α0.05. The incidence of stunting in children aged 1-2 years is influenced by the mother’s education, height of parents especially mother’s, and family economic status. Mothers must know about types of food that have high nutritional value at low prices so that the nutritional adequacy of the family is fulfilled.

Sleep disorders in a sample of Lebanese children: the role of parental mental health and child nutrition and activity

Background Sleep habits are an important component of a child’s health and it is affected by parent–child relationship. Also, child’s diet and nutrition appear to be an important factor affecting sleep health. Few studies have addressed the effect of parental emotional disturbance that can leave on children’s sleep. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disorders in pre- and school-aged children and evaluate its relation with parental mental health and child’s nutrition and activity. Methods A cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, which enrolled 402 Lebanese parents from all over Lebanon. The questionnaire was distributed online using the snowball technique. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was used to assess pediatric sleep behaviors and the Family Nutrition and physical activity questionnaire was used to assess parental behaviors that might predispose children for obesity. Results A total of 76 (19%) children had sleep disorders (PSQ scores of 8 or more). The multivariable analysis showed that higher paternal depression (Beta = 0.079, p = 0.010), maternal depression (Beta = 0.089, p = 0.001) and higher anxiety in the father (Beta = 0.064, p = 0.021) were significantly associated with higher PSQ scores (worse sleep) in the child. Higher Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool scores in the child (Beta = -0.161, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with lower PSQ scores (better sleep). Conclusion Paternal anxiety and depression, as well as maternal depression, were factors associated with children’s sleeping disorders. Future studies are needed to assess parental influence on child’s development.

Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children

Healthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sample of child–caregiver dyads (n = 85 dyads) were recruited from a public preschool serving a low-income community in central Mexico. Caregivers reported the frequency of ten family behaviors using the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool. Children completed a test of their ability to recall four words after a 60-s distraction task, an assessment of working memory. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association of children’s working memory with each family behavior, adjusting for children’s sex, age, mother’s age and education, and subjective social status and then also adjusting for children’s age- and sex-specific body mass index percentile (BMI-P) and covariates. Higher frequency of breakfast intake was significantly associated with working memory (β = 0.57, p = 0.013). This association was independent of children’s BMI-P. Other family behaviors (frequent family mealtimes, limiting screen time, and others) were not significantly associated with children’s working memory. Frequent breakfast intake could benefit young children’s working memory, regardless of their weight status. This association merits further investigation.